• J. Cole Performs Ferguson Protest Song 'Be Free' on 'Late Show with David Letterman'

    J. Cole released his third studio album, "2014 Forest Hills Drive," Tuesday, Dec. 9, and went on the "Late Show with David Letterman" to perform "Be Free," which is not on the album. Cole's commentary on Ferguson and tribute to Michael Brown, he used the stage to make his voice heard on the current issues facing the African-American community. His performance captured the sentimentality of "Be Free," as Cole delivered each word with poise and emotion. A simple performance with little fanfare, Cole stood on stage moving little but still showed his time-tested charisma, while a keyboardist played the simple and moving instrumental in the background, reported "Complex." He even wrote a new verse for the occasion and elicited a positive reaction from Letterman, who invited him back anytime."Be Free" has been the No. 1 trending song, according to "Billboard," since it came out. Cole has been one of the few artists who have been using his status to protest the grand jury decisions in Ferguson and New York City, writing a song and going out on the streets and protesting.

  • J. Cole's '2014 Forest Hills Drive' Set To Be Third Consecutive No. 1

    Even with very little promotion around the album, J Cole's 2014 Forest Hills Drive has been the talk of the music industry over the past couple weeks. How Cole is able to authentically reconnect with his childhood and tell a nostalgic story of his past has resonated with fans new and old for what could be his greatest work to date. That critical acclaim and buzz is translating into sales, according to a report from Billboard. According to industry forecasters, Cole could sell over 300,000 copies of 2014 Forest Hills Drive in the first week. This would catapult him to the top of the overall album charts.

  • J. Cole Doesn't Disappoint With New Album '2014 Forest Hills Drive,' May Have Biggest Hip-Hop Sales Week [ROUND-UP REVIEW]

    Last month, J. Cole officially announced the iTunes preorder for his "2014 Forest Hills Drive" album and fans had been anticipating its release ever since. The album ended up leaking before its official release and fans contemplated whether or not to listen early. Buzz surrounding a track called "Fire Squad," where Cole calls out Eminem, Justin Timberlake, Macklemore and Iggy Azalea for appropriating black culture, made the album hard to resist. Whether fans decided to take a listen early or wait for the official drop, all can agree the North Carolina rapper did not disappoint. It has been reported that the album may have the biggest hip-hop sales week of the year.

  • J. Cole Releases 'Apparently' Music Video [WATCH]

    J. Cole officially released his third artist album "2014 Forest Hills Drive" yesterday, Dec. 9. Though the album leaked last week, the full retrospective look into the "Fire Squad" is now available to all. He has released the music video for the 11th track on the album, titled "Apparently." Cole takes a more minimalistic approach to his video: Instead of bringing out nice cars and scantily dressed women, he kept with the down-to-earth and grounded theme of the album that focuses on family and his childhood, via "Complex."Cole keeps the personal theme of the album and the track in the video, rapping in front of grainy projections of home movies taken at his childhood home in Fayetteville, North Carolina, at 2014 Forest Hills Drive. It remains minimal with a small lighting fixture standing in for a chorus before Cole returns to his projector background of abstract imagery, similar to an iTunes visualizer.The first verse from "Apparently" hits home right away with Cole's theme of family and the home he grew up in:

  • J. Cole Talks Rough Childhood On '2014 Forest Hills Drive'

    Rap heads know the story of 2014 Forest Drive by now. It's the house J. Cole grew up in as a teenager in Fayetteville, N.C., and the one he just re-purchased this summer. But the 29-year-old rapper recently offered up some interesting new details from his upbringing.

  • J. Cole Eminem Diss: Trick Trick Responds To 'Fire Squad'

    It was the diss heard 'round the rap community last week when J. Cole's "Fire Squad" leaked to the public. The new cut calls out Justin Timberlake, Iggy Azalea, Eminem and Macklemore for making careers in primarily black genres.

  • J. Cole Contemplates Success On A Late Night Bike Ride In '2014 Forest Hills Drive (Intro)' Video [WATCH]

    Following the leak of his latest album 2014 Forest Hills Drive yesterday, J. Cole has shared a video for the opening track "Intro." The clip shows Cole riding around New York City on his bike, reflecting on how his life was much simpler back when money and success were just a dreams. The contemplative track features calming piano, jazzy horns, and Cole's soulful crooning. It's good to see the Fayetteville rapper hasn't let fame go to his head.

  • Michael Brown, Eric Garner: 10 Tribute Songs From T.I., Alicia Keys, J. Cole, And More

    Following the grand jury decisions regarding the police-related deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO and Eric Garner in Staten Island, NY, plenty of musicians have expressed their outrage and calls for peace and unity by releasing songs inspired by these incidents. Here are 10 songs inspired by the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner.
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